Laundry protector

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and more particularly, to a laundry protector having a housing with an interior, an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween. A lid is attached with the housing and covers the laundry opening while a plurality of washing holes are spaced throughout the housing, passing from the interior to the exterior. The lid of the housing can be opened to expose the laundry opening so that a piece of laundry may be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundry opening. After closing the lid and enclosing the piece of laundry in the interior of the housing, the laundry protector may be placed within a washing machine, allowing its contents to receive protection while being washed while water and detergent pass through the plurality of washing holes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and moreparticularly to a laundry protector having a housing with an interior,an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween, allowing a piece oflaundry to be inserted into the interior of the housing through thelaundry opening. After enclosing the piece of laundry in the housing,the laundry protector may be placed within a washing machine, allowingits contents to receive protection while being washed.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Historically, washing laundry was accomplished through traditionalhand-washing techniques. When hand washing a delicate piece of laundrysuch as a bra, an individual had to proceed cautiously to ensure thatthe piece of laundry remained undamaged.

However, with advent of washing machines, washing laundry by hand hasquickly become a thing of the past. As people pile loads of laundry intowashing machines, people no longer have the luxury of carefully ensuringthe safety of each piece of laundry individually. Washing machines usemechanized wash cycles to wash and rinse loads of laundry. Because ofthe mechanized nature of an electric washing machine, delicate laundryoften becomes damaged in the wash cycle.

Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need fora new and improved laundry protector for protecting laundry when placedwithin a washing machine. The present invention substantially fulfillsthis need.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and moreparticularly a laundry protector having a housing with an interior, anexterior, and a laundry opening therebetween. The laundry protector alsoincludes a plurality of washing holes in the housing, where the washingholes pass from the interior to the exterior, whereby a piece of laundrycan be inserted into the interior of the housing through the laundryopening. After inserting the piece of laundry in the interior of thehousing, the laundry protector may be placed in a washing machine,allowing its contents to recieve protection while being washed whilewater and detergent pass through the plurality of washing holes.

In another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises a lidattached with the housing, where the lid covers the laundry opening. Thelid of the housing can be manipulated to expose the laundry opening andallow a piece of laundry to be inserted into the interior of the housingthrough the laundry opening.

Additionally, the housing is constructed of a material selected from agroup consisting of plastic, rubber, and metal.

In another aspect, the laundry protector has a three-dimensional shapeand the three-dimensional shape is selected from a group consisting of asphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid, and a cylindrical shape.

Furthermore, the housing has a top portion and a flattened portion,whereby the flattened portion allows the housing to sit evenly atop asurface without rolling so that a user can easily insert the piece oflaundry.

In yet another aspect, the laundry protector has a length and the lengthis more than approximately three inches and less than approximatelyfourteen inches.

In another aspect, the piece of laundry is lingerie.

Additionally, at least one item from a set including the lid and thehousing includes a finger indentation, allowing a user to take hold ofthe laundry protector while opening or closing the laundry protector.

In another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises at least oneseparator in the interior of the housing, whereby the separator createsa first compartment and a second compartment thereby preventing multipleitems from touching each other while being washed. Furthermore, theseparator include holes therethrough, thereby allowing fluids to passfrom a first compartment to a second compartment.

In yet another aspect, the laundry protector further comprises at leastone laundry-securing device in the interior of the housing. Thelaundry-securing device may be used to hold a hook end of a bra in placewhile washing, thereby prohibiting a hook from catching or tearingdelicate fabrics. Additionally, the laundry-securing device includesteeth to engage with a piece of laundry, thereby holding the piece oflaundry in place about the laundry-securing device while being washed.

Additionally, the laundry protector further comprises a base forattaching with the housing. The base prevents the laundry protector fromrolling while inserting a piece of laundry into the interior of thehousing. The base is constructed such that it attaches with the housingusing at least one item selected from a group consisting of amale/female screw system and a snap system.

In another aspect, the lid is attached with the housing through aconnector.

In yet anther aspect, the connector comprises a hinge and a snap, wherethe lid is attached with the housing with the hinge, thereby allowingthe lid to be swung to an open position and a closed position, wherein,when in a closed position, the snap allows the lid to be securelyfastened with the housing.

In another aspect, the connector comprises threads in the housing andcorresponding threads in the lid, allowing the lid to be screwed intoand fastened securely with the housing.

Finally, the lid and the connector are integrally formed as alid-connector and wherein the lid connector is constructed of rubberhaving a lid-lip portion for attaching with a housing-lip portion to fitsecurely with the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature of the laundry protector described herein will be readilyapparent in the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a laundry protector according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is cut-away cross sectional view of the laundry protector of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the laundry protector according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of a laundry protector according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a connector according to the present invention;

FIG. 6A is a side view of another aspect of a laundry protectoraccording to the present invention;

FIG. 6B is a blown-up, cut-away view of a circle highlighted in FIG. 6A;

FIG. 7 is a side view of another aspect of a laundry protector accordingto the present invention, where the laundry protector is attached with abase;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a base for attaching with a housing;

FIG. 9 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another aspect of a laundryprotector according to the present invention, where the laundryprotector includes a separator;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the laundry protector of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of another aspect of alaundry protector according to the present invention, where the laundryprotector includes a laundry-securing device; and

FIG. 12 is a top view of the laundry protector of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a laundry protector, and moreparticularly, to a laundry protector having a housing with an interior,an exterior, and a laundry opening therebetween, allowing a piece oflaundry to be inserted into the interior of the housing through thelaundry opening, and after enclosing the piece of laundry in thehousing, the laundry protector may be placed within a washing machine,allowing its contents to receive protection while being washed.

The following description, taken in conjunction with the referenceddrawings, is presented to enable one of ordinary skill in the art tomake and use the invention. Various modifications will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles definedherein may be applied to a wide range of aspects. Thus, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the aspects presented, but isto be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novelfeatures disclosed herein. Furthermore it should be noted that unlessexplicitly stated otherwise, the figures included herein are illustrateddiagrammatically and without any specific scale, as they are provided asqualitative illustrations of the concept of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a laundry protector 100 according to the presentinvention. The laundry protector 100 comprises a housing 102 with aninterior 104, an exterior 106, and a laundry opening 108 therebetween.Due to the side view of FIG. 1, the laundry opening 108 is shownsideways in this particular illustration. The laundry protector 100 maybe any suitable three-dimensional shape, non-limiting examples of whichinclude a sphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid, and a cylindrical shape.Additionally, the laundry protector 100 may be any suitable length ordimension allowing the laundry protector to fit within a washingmashing, a non-limiting example of which includes a length of more thanthree inches and less than fourteen inches.

The housing 102 may be constructed of any suitable durable material,non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal. A lid110 is attached with the housing 102 and covers the laundry opening 108.The lid 110 may be constructed of any suitable durable material,non-limiting examples of which include plastic, rubber, and metal. Thelid 110 is attached with the housing 102 through a connector 112. Theconnector 112 may be any suitable mechanism or device for connecting oneobject with another, non-limiting examples of which include a hinge witha snap (i.e. male/female joint system), and threads. For example, in thecase where the lid 110 is attached with the housing 102 with a hinge114, the lid 110 may be swung open and thereafter closed to be securelyfastened with the housing through use of a snap 116. When a hinge 114 isused, the hinge 114 may be separately formed and thereafter attachedwith the lid 110, or integrally formed with the lid 110, such as aliving hinge. In another example, in the case where the connector 112uses threads, threads are included in the housing 102 with correspondingthreads in the lid 110, allowing the lid 110 to be screwed into andfastened securely with the housing 102.

Additionally, a plurality of washing holes 117 pass from the interior104 to the exterior 106 of the housing 102. The washing holes 117 may beany suitable size or placed at any suitable location to allow water anddetergent to pass therethrough.

The lid 110 of the housing 102 can be opened to expose the laundryopening 108. Once opened, a piece of laundry can be inserted into theinterior 104 of the housing 102 through the laundry opening 108. Afterclosing the lid 110 and enclosing the piece of laundry in the interior104 of the housing 102, the laundry protector 100 may be placed in awashing machine, allowing its contents to receive protection while beingwashed, with water and detergent passing through the plurality ofwashing holes 117. The piece of laundry may be any piece of laundrycapable of fitting within the interior 104 of the housing 102,non-limiting examples of which include lingerie such as a bra and nylonstockings.

Furthermore, the housing 102 has a top portion 118 and a flattenedportion 120. The flattened portion 120 allows the housing 102 to sitsecurely atop a surface without rolling so that a user can easily insertthe piece of laundry into the housing 102. The flattened portion 120 maybe located at any suitable location along the housing 102. For exampleand as illustrated in FIG. 1, the flattened portion 120 may be locatedon a bottom of the housing 102. In another aspect, the flattened portion120 may be located on a side of the housing 102 which allows the laundryprotector 100 to be easily loaded at an angle.

Additionally, the laundry protector 100 may optionally include fingerindentations 122. The finger indentations 122 allow a user to take holdof the laundry protector 100 while opening or closing it. The fingerindentations 122 may be located at any suitable location allowing a userto take hold of the laundry protector 100, non-limiting examples of suchlocations including in the housing 102 and the lid 110.

FIG. 2 is a cut-away cross-sectional view of a laundry protector 100. Asshown in FIG. 2, the lid 110 may be manipulated to expose the laundryopening 108. Once exposed, the piece of laundry 200 may be inserted intothe interior 104 of the housing 102.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the laundry protector 100 of FIG. 1. As shown inFIG. 3, finger indentations 122 may be included in the lid 110, allowinga user to easily manipulate the lid 110.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the laundry protector 100 of FIG. 1. As shownin FIG. 4, finger indentations 122 may be included in the bottom of thehousing 102. In this particular illustration, the finger indentationsare included in the flattened portion 120 of the housing 102.

FIG. 5 illustrates a laundry protector 100 with a connector 112. Asstated above, the connector 112 may be any suitable mechanism or devicefor connecting one object with another, non-limiting examples of whichinclude a hinge with a snap and threads. As illustrated in FIG. 5, whenthe connector 112 uses threads 500, threads 500 are included in thehousing 102 with corresponding threads 500 in the lid 110. The threads500 allow the lid 110 to be screwed into and fastened securely with thehousing 102. A spacer 502 may be optionally included with the threads500. The spacer 502 may be a compressible rubber, allowing the lid 110to be secured against the housing 102. In this form, when the lid 110 isremoved, the piece of laundry 200 may be inserted into the interior 104of the housing 102. Once inserted, the lid 110 may be screwed back intoplace and thereby protects the piece of laundry 200.

FIG. 6A illustrates a laundry protector 100 with another type of aconnector 600. In this aspect, the lid 110 and the connector 600 areintegrally formed as a lid-connector 110/600. The lid-connector 110/600may be constructed of any suitable durable material, non-limitingexamples of which include plastic and rubber. Additionally, thelid-connector 110/600 may also include washing holes 117, where thewashing holes pass from an interior to an exterior of the housing 102.

The connector 600 has a lid-lip portion 602 and the housing as ahousing-lip portion 604. The housing-lip portion 604 is constructed suchthat the lid-lip portion 802 attaches therein, allowing thelid-connector 110/600 to be securely attached with the housing 102.

FIG. 6B illustrates a blown-up, cut-away view of a circle highlighted inFIG. 6A. As shown in FIG. 6B, the housing-lip portion 604 is constructedsuch that the lid-lip portion 602 attaches therein, allowing thelid-connector 110/600 to be securely attached with the housing 102.

FIG. 7 illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector 100 accordingto the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector 100 maybe removably attached with a base 700 to prevent the laundry protector100 from rolling while inserting a piece of laundry into the interior104 of the housing 102. The base 700 may be constructed of any suitablydurable material, non-limiting examples of which include plastic,rubber, and metal.

FIG. 8 illustrates a base 700. The base 700 may be attached with thehousing through any suitable mechanism or device for attaching oneobject with another, non-limiting examples of which include amale/female screw system, and a snap system. As illustrated in FIG. 8,the base 700 may include a screw system 800, where the screw system 800can be screwed into a corresponding screw system on the housing.

FIG. 9 illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector 100 accordingto the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector 100further comprises at least one separator 900 in the interior 104 of thehousing 102. The separator 900 prevents multiple items from touchingeach other while being washed. The separator 900 may be constructed ofany suitable durable material, non-limiting examples of which includeplastic, rubber, and metal. Additionally, the separator 900 may includeholes therethrough, allowing fluids to pass from a first compartment 902to a second compartment 904. Furthermore, the separator 900 may bepermanently affixed or removably attached within the housing 102. Whenremovably attached within the housing 102, the separator 900 may beremovably attached through any suitable mechanism or device forremovably attaching one object with another, a non-limiting example ofwhich includes rails 906. As shown in FIG. 9, the rails 906 allow theseparator 900 to be slid into and affixed with the housing 102.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of the laundry protector 100 of FIG.9. As shown, the separator 900 compartmentalizes the laundry protector100, creating a first compartment 902 and a second compartment 904.

FIG. 11 illustrates another aspect of a laundry protector 100 accordingto the present invention. In this aspect, the laundry protector 100includes a laundry-securing device 1100 in the interior 104 of thehousing 102. The laundry-securing device 1100 may be any suitablemechanism or device for holding a piece of laundry firmly in place, anon-limiting example of which includes a bar. In this aspect, thelaundry-securing device 1100 may be used to hold a hook end of a bra inplace while washing, thereby prohibiting a hook from catching or tearingdelicate fabrics. The laundry-securing device 1100 may be constructed ofany suitably durable material, non-limiting examples of which includeplastic, rubber, and metal.

Additionally, the laundry-securing device 1100 is attached with thehousing 102 through use of a device-connector 1102. The device-connector1102 may be any suitable mechanism or device for connecting one objectwith another, a non-limiting example of which includes a hinge.Furthermore, the laundry-securing device 1100 may be fastened with thehousing 102 through use of a device-fastener 1104. The device-fastener1104 may be any suitable mechanism or device for fastening one objectwith another, a non-limiting example of which includes a fastener tab.In this aspect, the laundry-securing device 1100 may be unfastened,allowing the piece of laundry to be placed beneath the laundry-securingdevice 1100. The laundry-securing device 1100 may then be placed overthe piece of laundry and fastened with the housing 102 using thefastener tab.

The laundry-securing device 1100 may also include teeth 1106. The teeth1106 are constructed such that they engage with the piece of laundry toprevent the piece of laundry from slipping out while being washed. Theteeth 1106 may be any suitable size or placed at any suitable locationto firmly engage with the piece of laundry.

FIG. 12 is a top perspective view of the laundry protector 100 of FIG.11. As shown in FIG. 12, a bra 1200 may be firmly affixed within theinterior 104 of the housing 102 through use of the laundry-securingdevice 1100. In this aspect, a hook end 1202 of the bra 1200 is heldagainst the housing 102 with the hooks facing the housing 102, therebypreventing the hooks from catching or tearing other delicate fabricsplaced within the laundry protector 100.

1. A laundry protector comprising: a housing with an interior, anexterior, and a laundry opening therebetween; and a plurality of washingholes in the housing, wherein the washing holes pass from the interiorto the exterior, whereby a piece of laundry can be inserted into theinterior of the housing through the laundry opening, wherein, whenplaced within a washing machine, the piece of laundry receivesprotection while being washed while water and detergent pass through theplurality of washing holes.
 2. A laundry protector as set forth in claim1, wherein the laundry protector further comprises a lid attached withthe housing, whereby the lid covers the laundry opening, whereby the lidof the housing can be manipulated to expose the laundry opening andallow a piece of laundry to be inserted into the interior of the housingthrough the laundry opening.
 3. A laundry protector as set forth inclaim 2, wherein the housing is constructed of a material selected froma group consisting of plastic, rubber, and metal.
 4. A laundry protectoras set forth in claim 3, wherein the laundry protector has athree-dimensional shape and the three-dimensional shape is selected froma group consisting of a sphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid, and acylindrical shape.
 5. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 4,wherein the housing has a top portion and a flattened portion, wherebythe flattened portion allows the housing to sit evenly atop a surfacewithout rolling so that a user can easily insert the piece of laundry.6. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 4, wherein the laundryprotector has a length and the length is more than approximately threeinches and less than approximately fourteen inches.
 7. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the piece of laundry islingerie.
 8. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 7, wherein atleast one item from a set including the lid and the housing includes afinger indentation, allowing a user to take hold of the laundryprotector while opening or closing the laundry protector.
 9. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the laundry protector furthercomprises at least one separator in the interior of the housing, wherebythe separator creates a first compartment and a second compartmentthereby preventing multiple items from touching each other while beingwashed.
 10. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 9, wherein theseparator include holes therethrough, thereby allowing fluids to passfrom a first compartment to a second compartment.
 11. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the laundry protectorfurther comprises at least one laundry-securing device in the interiorof the housing, whereby the laundry-securing device may be used to holda hook end of a bra in place while washing, thereby prohibiting a hookfrom catching or tearing delicate fabrics.
 12. A laundry protector asset forth in claim 11, wherein the laundry-securing device includesteeth to engage with a piece of laundry, thereby holding the piece oflaundry in place about the laundry-securing device while being washed.13. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 12, wherein the laundryprotector further comprises a base for attaching with the housing,whereby the base prevents the laundry protector from rolling whileinserting a piece of laundry into the interior of the housing.
 14. Alaundry protector as set forth in claim 13, wherein the base attacheswith the housing using at least one item selected from a groupconsisting of a male/female screw system and a snap system.
 15. Alaundry protector as set forth in claim 14, wherein the lid is attachedwith the housing through a connector.
 16. A laundry protector as setforth in claim 15, wherein the connector comprises a hinge and a snap,where the lid is attached with the housing with the hinge, therebyallowing the lid to be swung to an open position and a closed position,wherein, when in a closed position, the snap allows the lid to besecurely fastened with the housing.
 17. A laundry protector as set forthin claim 15, wherein the connector comprises threads in the housing andcorresponding threads in the lid, allowing the lid to be screwed intoand fastened securely with the housing.
 18. A laundry protector as setforth in claim 15, wherein the lid and the connector are integrallyformed as a lid-connector and wherein the lid connector is constructedof rubber having a lid-lip portion for attaching with a housing-lipportion to fit securely with the housing.
 19. A laundry protector as setforth in claim 1, wherein the housing is constructed of a materialselected from a group consisting of plastic, rubber, and metal.
 20. Alaundry protector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the laundry protectorhas a three-dimensional shape and the three-dimensional shape isselected from a group consisting of a sphere, a polygon, an ellipsoid,and a cylindrical shape.
 21. A laundry protector as set forth in claim1, wherein the housing has a top portion and a flattened portion,whereby the flattened portion allows the housing to sit evenly atop asurface without rolling so that a user can easily insert the piece oflaundry.
 22. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 1, wherein thelaundry protector has a length and the length is more than approximatelythree inches and less than approximately fourteen inches.
 23. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the piece of laundry islingerie.
 24. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 1, wherein atleast one item from a set including the lid and the housing includes afinger indentation, allowing a user to take hold of the laundryprotector while opening or closing the laundry protector.
 25. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the laundry protector furthercomprises at least one separator in the interior of the housing, wherebythe separator creates a first compartment and a second compartmentthereby preventing multiple items from touching each other while beingwashed.
 26. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 25, wherein theseparator include holes therethrough, thereby allowing fluids to passfrom a first compartment to a second compartment.
 27. A laundryprotector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the laundry protector furthercomprises at least one laundry-securing device in the interior of thehousing, whereby the laundry-securing device may be used to hold a hookend of a bra in place while washing, thereby prohibiting a hook fromcatching or tearing delicate fabrics.
 28. A laundry protector as setforth in claim 27, wherein the laundry-securing device includes teeth toengage with a piece of laundry, thereby holding the piece of laundry inplace about the laundry-securing device while being washed.
 29. Alaundry protector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the laundry protectorfurther comprises a base for attaching with the housing, whereby thebase prevents the laundry protector from rolling while inserting a pieceof laundry into the interior of the housing.
 30. A laundry protector asset forth in claim 29, wherein the base attaches with the housing usingat least one item selected from a group consisting of a male/femalescrew system and a snap system.
 31. A laundry protector as set forth inclaim 1, wherein the lid is attached with the housing through aconnector.
 32. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 31, wherein theconnector comprises a hinge and a snap, where the lid is attached withthe housing with the hinge, thereby allowing the lid to be swung to anopen position and a closed position, wherein, when in a closed position,the snap allows the lid to be securely fastened with the housing.
 33. Alaundry protector as set forth in claim 31, wherein the connectorcomprises threads in the housing and corresponding threads in the lid,allowing the lid to be screwed into and fastened securely with thehousing.
 34. A laundry protector as set forth in claim 31, wherein thelid and the connector are integrally formed as a lid-connector andwherein the lid connector is constructed of rubber having a lid-lipportion for attaching with a housing-lip portion to fit securely withthe housing.